Sydney DJ Nikki Sullivan in cancer crusher karaoke marathon

Local radio personality Nikki Sullivan, who works at The Eagle 103.5 in Sydney, belts out a tune on Tuesday as she prepared for her Cancer Crusher Karaoke Marathon fundraiser, which takes place Wednesday (from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mayflower Mall in Sydney. (STEVE WADDEN)

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton radio announcer is singing her heart out for cancer.

Nikki Sullivan will dip into decades worth of classic songs today as part of 13-hour cancer crusher karaoke marathon.

“I was trying to think of ideas that would be something that would generate interest and something that would be fun,” said Sullivan, a local disc jockey for the Eagle 103.5 FM.

While a regular karaoke singer, Sullivan said she’s no professional.

To help her along, she’s invited some well-known Cape Breton singers, such as Aaron Lewis, Andrew Doyle and Terrance Murphy, to join her for a few tunes.

For her efforts, she hopes to raise $5,000 for the Relay for Life and the Canadian Cancer Society in Nova Scotia.

“Cancer is such a sad illness and it touches so many people in Cape Breton, and so many children it seems,” said Sullivan. “I wanted to do something that would brings peoples spirits up.”

As a young girl, she said she was inspired by Terry Fox.

“I remember crying when I saw the newscast that he had lost his (cancer) battle, and I guess it’s just something that really, really stuck with me.”

Sullivan said an aunt and uncle were diagnosed with cancer, while a family friend recently lost their young son to the disease.

“It’s something that hits close to home,” said the Sydney native. “When you sit back and see the families in Cape Breton affected with their children fighting cancer as well, it really rips your heart out. You want to do whatever you can to help the cause.”

Sullivan is planning to make a cheque presentation to Relay for Life taking place on June 6 at the Victoria Park Armouries in Sydney. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Sullivan’s karaoke marathon will start at 8 a.m. today at the Mayflower Mall.